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Details
- Location: El Mosco, Sierra Occidental de Jalisco
- Agave: A Maximiliana (Maguey Lechuguilla) / A. Angustifolia (Maguey Chico Aguiar)
- Maestro: José Salcedo Rios
- ABV: 41-45% ABV
- Tasting keywords: light, friendly, minty
Nose: citrus, perfume, roasted agave, alcohol
Taste: A sweet and harmonious blend. Notes of green peppercorns and candied agave, with a strongly minty finish. This would be a good introductory raicilla, which is not to imply that it’s basic–just pleasantly easy to drink. As a lower priced spirit in the La Venenosa line, Las Tabernas is a reasonable choice if you’re looking to make raicilla cocktails. That said, I would not label it a cocktail raicilla.
Production Details
- Roast: Oak-fired adobe oven
- Crush: Machete and small corn mill
- Ferment: Tinaco, wild yeast
- Distillation: Double-distilled in copper and stainless steel
Background
José Salcedo Rios is a younger producer who runs a tight ship and approaches production with scientific precision. Located in the mountainous countryside near Mascota, his taberna is surrounded by an agave nursery.
Founded in 2011 by Esteban Morales Garibi, La Venenosa showcases small agave spirits producers from all over Jalisco–including many from within the raicilla DO. Despite pioneer status in the raicilla category in terms of branding and international distribution, La Venenosa bottles are now labeled as Espiritus de Jalisco, Aguardiente de Agave, or Agave Distillate.
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